there is the catastrophe in japan and the united states immediately wants to say, what is the president doing? what is the policy? what is the action? 30 years ago, that would have been one of the questions, but it would not be a central question. it is amazing what they can do. i think obama has more power than bush had, for instance. >> and yet, i believe it is your view that we know less about the president, less about the white house than ever. why is that and why is it our fault? >> it is, in part, our fault. i think the messengers and the white house get better and better and more skillful. it is a barrier, often. knows how long i spent breaking down that logjam in the white house, saying it, i am doing this book. i have these stories. i have these memos. and they would say, ok, give us the question. it is not something where they are standing there on pennsylvania avenue saying to reporters, come on. we are dying to have you hold us accountable for what we are doing. >> if you do manage to break people down. but what if the white house said, we are going to shut a baba down. no a